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How English coach Graham Potter is working miracles in the Europa League

Graham Potter has taken his side from Sweden’s fourth tier to the verge of the group stage

Alan Smith

August 23 2017, 12:01am, The Times

The Östersunds coach is increasingly being compared to HodgsonMARCUS ERICSSON/GETTY IMAGES

When Graham Potter arrived in Östersund nearly seven years ago, the locals told him that he was crazy. Everywhere he went, friendly but bemused natives had one recurring question: “Why are you here?”

The journeyman full back, perhaps best known for his spells at Birmingham City and Stoke City, had gone to the obscure northern Swedish town of 50,000 inhabitants to manage their fourth-tier team. It was, he says, a club with no history, no tradition and no culture. But it was also the only opportunity available.

Hodgson is revered in Sweden, after his success with Halmstads and MalmöMARC ASPLAND/THE TIMES

On Thursday night, a 2-0 win at home to PAOK, of Greece, would be enough to take Östersunds into the group stage of the Europa League. Potter is 90 minutes from being the only English coach in the…

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